G/SPS/N/PHL/461  
 
11 May 2020  
(20-3524) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES  
1. Notifying Member:  PHILIPPINES  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Department of Agriculture Bureau of Animal Industry  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable):  Animal products  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document:  Department of Agriculture Bureau of Animal Industry 
Memorandum Circular 5 Series of 2020  Verification of International Health Certificate 
(HC)/International Veterinary Health Certificate (IVHC/IVC) During Enhanced Community 
Quarantine Period . Language(s): English . Number of pages: 1 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/SPS/PHL/20_3126_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content:  The Circular prescribes a remedial process to facilitate cargo 
release processing in international ports of consignments lacking original IVC/HC 
document due to disruption in the operation of courier services amid Enhanced 
Community Quarantine (ECQ) imposed in the country due to COVID -19 pandemic. The  
Philippines will accept electronic copy of the HC as long as the authenticity will be 
confirmed by the veterinary authority of the source country.  
7. Objective and rationale: [X]  food safety, [X]  animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[X] protect humans fr om animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.  
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action:  Luzon has been 
under ECQ since mid -March  
9. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify  the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) :  
[X] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) : Chapter 5.10, Terrestrial A nimal 
Health Code (2019)  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[ ] None  G/SPS/N/PHL/461  
 
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  Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[X] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
10. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable):  
23 March 2020  
[X] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address 
(if available) of other body:   
Office of the Director  
Policy Research Service  
Department of Agricultu re 
Elliptical Road, Diliman,  
Quezon City  
Tel: +(632) 926 7439  
Fax: +(632) 928 0590  
E-mail: spspilipinas@gmail.com   
Website: http://spsissuances.da.gov.ph/  
Or 
National Veterinary Quarantine Services Division  
Bureau of Animal Industry  
Visayas Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City  
Tel: +(632) 528 2250  
Email: baiquarantinephvhc@gmail.com   
 baiquarantineph@gmail.com   
13. Text(s) available from: [X]  National Notification Authority, [X]  National Enquiry 
Point. Addre ss, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
Office of the Director  
Policy Research Service  
Department of Agriculture  
Elliptical Road, Diliman,  
Quezon City  
Tel: +(632) 926 7439  
Fax: +(632) 928 0590  
E-mail: spspilipinas@gmail.com  
Website: http://spsissuances.da.gov.ph/  
Or 
National Veterinary Quarantine Services Division  
Bureau of Animal Industry  
Visayas Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City  
Tel: +(632) 528 2250 
Email: baiquarantinephvhc@gmail.com   
 baiquarantineph@gmail.com